May 7, 2017

How to Answer Questions on Emphatic Stress in Use of English Exams

It is very rare to see a
Secondary School English exams without questions on Emphatic Stress. WAEC,
NECO, NABTEB or JAMB makes sure that their objective test questions on Use of
English don't get to candidates without the inclusion of questions from Emphatic
Stress. That is why students sitting for either of these exams must have a
knowledge of this topic.

Questions on
Emphatic Stress are the simplest but students still fail them. This is because
they are yet to have an understanding of the topic (Emphatic Stress) hence
the need for this tutorial.

Emphatic
stress is a stress placed on a particular word in a phrase or clause for
clarity or emphasis. In WAEC's, NECO's, NABTEB's and JAMB's Use of English exam, the
word that is emphasised or the word that carries the emphatic stress is usually
capitalised.

For example:

Tammy's
girlfriend is always STUNNING.

In the example
above, "stunning" carries the emphatic stress.

How Does
WAEC, NECO, NABTEB or JAMB Set Their Questions on Emphatic Stress?

Questions on
emphatic stress by these examination bodies take the same format. For instance,
you might be asked to choose the option that carries the emphatic stress in
the question below.

Tammy's
girlfriend is always STUNNING.

A. Is Emeka's
wife always stunning?

B. Is Tammy's
sister always stunning?

C. Is Tammy's
wife always beautiful?

D. Is Tammy's
wife occasionally stunning?

How Do I
Know the Correct Option in the Options Above?

It is very
simple. Since the word that has the emphatic stress is "stunning", the option
that does not have "stunning" becomes the correct answer. In the question
above, the emphasis is on "stunning", so the answer will be an option
without "stunning". Therefore, the answer is C.

If the emphasis was on "Tammy's", then the answer would have been A. If the emphasis was on "wife", the answer would have been B. If the emphasis was on
"always", the answer would have been D.

Things to
Note while Choosing Your Answer.

In order to
choose your answers correctly, it is very important you take note of the
following:

1. Take note
of the word that is emphasised in the question. The word that is emphasised is
usually capitalised.

2. When
choosing your answer, choose the option that does not have the capitalised
word. All the options except one carry the capitalised word in the
question. The one without the capitalised word is the correct option.

3. You are
good to go.

Are you still
confused, kindly use the comment box to ask your question(s).

Tammy Reuben Is A Graduate Of English And Literary Studies Whose Love For Teaching English As A Second Language And Providing Students With Useful Educational And Secular Information Resulted In The Creation Of This Blog.

13 comments:

The secretary enjoys travelling AT NIGHTa. Did the secretary enjoy travelling by dayb. Does the secretary enjoy travelling by day c. Who enjoys travelling by nightd. Does the secretary hate travelling at night